Dick

There's a study presented in The Auk (Vol 116:1, Jan99, Pgs 35-45) that speaks
to avian pox in House Finches and its relationship to plumage color you might
find interesting.

Peter Sullins


"R.J. Cannings & M. Holm" <mholm at vip.net> wrote:
> While banding birds in Vancouver 5 to 10 years ago, I estimated a 10 to 20%
> infection rate for avian pox in House Finches. No other species came
close.
> I've seen it rarely on Evening Grosbeaks, and once on a Swainson's Thrush.
> I don't think it kills House Finches very often, though a few with bad
> lesions around their eyes were obviously hampered. Many have it on their
> feet (which may spread the disease to other birds' faces at roosts and
> feeders as they wipe their bills on contaminated branches?) and seem to
> develop immunity to further infections.
>
> Dick Cannings
> 1330 Debeck Road
> S11, C96, RR#1
> Naramata, BC V0H 1N0
> CANADA
>
> (250) 496-4049
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Eugene Kridler <ekridler at olympus.net>
> To: <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
> Sent: Tuesday, November 16, 1999 5:50 PM
> Subject: Pox in House Finches
>
>
> > A couple of persons with feeders are observing House Finches with pox
> > lesions in various places on their heads. Has anybody else found this
> > viral infection on Finches at their feeders. If so, what actions have
> > they taken to prevent the spread? Successful?
> >
> > Pox and avian malaria brought in by introduced birds and transmitted to
> > many of the endemic birds of Hawaii by the mosquito (also introduced to
> > Hawaii) was one of the reasons causing the extinction of some species
> > there..
> >
> > Eugene Kridler
> > Retired Wildlife Biologist
> > U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
> > 951 E. Oak St.
> > Sequim, Wa. 98382
> >
> >

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